10 Symptoms of Pertussis
Pertussis is a disease of the respiratory tract that often causes uncontrollable coughing, in addition to other symptoms. It is highly contagious and the Bordetella pertussis bacterium is the cause of the infection. It is an infection that makes it difficult for the patient to breathe and is perhaps best known for the characteristic “whooping” sound patients make.
For this reason, it is better known as whooping cough. Whooping cough can affect people of all ages and adults are more likely to catch it than infants. In adults, though, the symptoms tend to be subdued and many may not even realize they had whooping cough at all.
The symptoms are more noticeable in the very young and very old, though, and it can be dangerous to the vulnerable.
Symptom #1: Mild Cough
It is common for an illness to start off with symptoms that are mild, only for them to go on to worsen. While pertussis is known for the painful cough it produces, the cough is likely to be much milder to begin with. In fact, it is really quite easy to dismiss the cough that comes with pertussis in the early stages.
Early on, pertussis will often get passed off for something else. A missed diagnosis can mean a missed opportunity to deal with the problem before it gets worse. If you are speaking with a doctor, make sure to give them every bit of information you have to help them diagnose the problem correctly.
Symptom #2: Mild Fever
Pathogens need to be kept within a certain temperature range if they are to survive and thrive. If things get too hot for them then they will slow down or maybe even die off altogether. It’s something that our natural immune systems often use to help them fight against disease.
Early pertussis will likely cause a mild fever, which is the body raising its temperature to help fight off invaders. It is only a mild fever at this stage and might even be missed if the patient’s temperature is not taken. The fever is likely to remain relatively mild through the duration of the illness.
Symptom #3: Runny Nose
Although snot is often the butt of toilet humor jokes, it actually serves a very important purpose. As we breathe, we take in air that can contain a huge variety of pathogens and these could potentially make us ill. Lining the inner surface of our nostrils, however, is a sticky substance we know as snot. This helps to trap germs, preventing them from being inhaled into the lungs.
When we are sick, our bodies start producing more of this mucus in an effort to expel pathogens from the body. This results in what we call a runny nose. While not harmful in itself, it can be annoying.
Symptom #4: Sneezing
Did you know that when we sneeze, air is expelled from our bodies at around 100 mph? This force helps the body to expel pathogens and other unwanted items from the body. It’s part of our natural immune system and helps to keep us safe from disease. While it can be caused by something irritating the nose, it can also be a sign that you are ill.
Sneezing is a common symptom of pertussis when in its early stages. This symptom, along with others, means that pertussis is often mistaken for a common cold to begin with. It is often best to check thoroughly to be sure, especially in vulnerable people.
Symptom #5: Apnea
Breathing requires air to be able to pass freely through the air channels. This is not usually a problem and we are free to breathe 24/7, but this can all change if our airways are restricted for some reason. They can become blocked for various reasons including the presence of foreign bodies. Sometimes, the airways themselves can become too narrow.
When the airways become blocked and breathing is paused, it is known as apnea. It is usually very brief and the patient will be able to breathe again just fine. Treatment for apnea can be necessary to help the patient breathe properly and it does have the potential to be dangerous.
Symptom #6: Diarrhea
In addition to absorbing nutrients such as fats, proteins, and minerals, our digestive system also absorbs water from our food. These are all essential to us and our food usually travels through the digestive system fairly slowly to make sure we get as much as we can from it. It can sometimes pass through too quickly, though, in what we know as diarrhea.
Diarrhea means that the body has not had sufficient time to absorb enough water and nutrition. This results in watery stools and also puts the patient at risk of malnutrition and dehydration. Sometimes it is a symptom of pertussis in some people and can be serious in particularly vulnerable patients.
Symptom #7: Whooping
Pertussis is more commonly known as whooping cough, and for very good reasons. The cough causes the patient to make a distinctive whooping sound, making for a tell-tale sign of the cause. It sounds very uncomfortable to the patient, which it is, and it can be very difficult for parents to see their young children suffering from the condition.
If your child or anybody of any age does start whooping then you should arrange to see a doctor as soon as possible, if you have not done so already. When adults get whooping cough, many will pass it off as a cold, but it is usually far more noticeable in infants.
Symptom #8: Paroxysms
Paroxysms is the technical medical term for sudden attacks of a particular symptom. Where pertussis is concerned, these are attacks of coughing. We generally call them coughing fits, and they can be quite violent.
The coughing fits actually leave the patient short of breath as they have been unable to inhale during the coughing. This then causes them to breathe in heavily and sharply when they are able, resulting in the characteristic “whooping” sound. This can be very painful for the patient, particularly for young children. Coughing fits can also cause the patient to turn red or even purple in their face.
Symptom #9: Vomiting
Vomiting is often done deliberately by the body as it tries to eject something that it feels should not be there. It can also be a response to something unpleasant such as a particularly vile odor or even some bad news. At other times, though, it can be caused by violent actions in the body, such as a severe cough.
After a coughing fit, the patient may present with vomiting, syncope, or apnea. In this case, vomiting is due to the repetitive coughing action vs. spontaneously trying to rid the body of something. This vomiting will only add to the discomfort caused by coughing.
Symptom #10: Exhaustion
On the outside, it can appear as though an ill person is doing nothing other than lying in bed. Beneath the skin, though, the entire body can be fighting hard against disease, throwing all it has at helping the patient recover. This can be exhausting, and people that are sick will often complain of feeling tired as a result.
In addition to the internal struggles, patients with pertussis also have to endure the severe cough. This can also be physically exhausting, adding to the tiredness already experienced from being ill. The cough is also likely to be disruptive to their sleep, further adding to their exhaustion.
